Local Improvement Charges

Whereas the Provinces of Nova Scotia and Ontario allow municipalities to offer homeowner financing through local improvement charges to fund improvements to private homes upgrading the energy efficiency of the home andor adding renewable energy options to the home; And whereas these improvements reduce energy costs to the homeowner for the lifecycle of the home while reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions within the community; And whereas the local improvement charge model reduces the burden of debt from the homeowner and the debt stays with the house in the form of a property tax until paid off: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province of British Columbia to approve enabling legislation to allow municipalities to provide private property owners financing for energy efficiency retrofits and renewable energy upgrades to their homes through the use of local Improvement charges.